Rotating and circulating whipstock apparatus



Aug. 22', 1967 w D. WARNER ETAL 3,336,990

ROTATING AND CIRCULATING WHIPSTOCK APPARATUS Filed June 10, 1965 2SheetsSheer 1 WILLIAM D. WARNER NATHANIEL E CAMPBELL INVENTOR.

1967 w. D. VWARNER ETAL 3,336,990

ROTATING AND CIRCULATING WHIPSTOCK APPARATUS Filed June 10, 1965 2Sheets-Shem E:

WiLLIAM D. WARNER NATHANIEL E. CAM FS BELL INVENT PEG. 5

United States Patent Office 3,336,990 ROTATING AND CIRCULATING WHIPSTOCKAPPARATUS William D. Warner and Nathaniel E. Campbell, Oklahoma City,Okla, assignors to Acme Tool, Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla, a corporationof Kansas Filed June 10, 1965, Ser. No. 462,956 6 Claims. (Cl. 175-82)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tubular sub comprising cooperative splinedtelescoping members having a central and an auxiliary drilling fluidpassageway is interposed between the depending end of a drill string andthe drill bit and positioned within the confines of a whipstock having alongitudinally extending drilling fluid passageway in its depending endportion. A frangible plug, interrupting the central fluid passageway,initially directs the drilling fluid through the auxiliary passageway.The frangible plug is ruptured and the auxiliary passageway closed whenthe sub members are in telescoped position.

The present invention relates to oil well drilling and more particularlyto a rotating and circulating whipstock.

The whipstock is, in principle, a long inverted substantiallywedge-shaped section of steel which is concave on one side to guide awhipstock bottom drilling assembly in an angular direction with respectto the axis of the original borehole and guide the bit into apredetermined course as a new hole is drilled. At the upper end of thewhipstock there is a ring or collar having an inside diameter smallerthan the outside diameter of the drill bit positioned below the ring.This permits positive removal of the whipstock when the drilling stringis lifted out of the hole. The whipstock further includes a non-taperedconcave section between the ring and wedgeshaped section which nests thetubular members interposed between the ring and drill bit.

When lowering a conventional type whipstock into a borehole fordeflection drilling, there are often encountered formation cave-ins orbridges which tend to obstruct or stop downward movement and orientationof the whipstock. The lowermost end portion of the whipstock extends asubstantial distance beyond the lowermost end of the mud outlet passageof the drill bit. Thus, while it is possible to circulate mudcontinuously through the drilling string and out of the drill bit duringthe lowering process the benefits of such circulation in preparing apath and opening for the whipstock and drilling string have little or noeffect on obstructions encountered by the whipstock itself.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide ameans for rotating a whipstock with the drill string and providingcirculation from the drill string through the depending end portion ofthe whipstock.

A similarly important object is to provide means for interrupting thefluid circulation from the drill string through the whipstock so thatsubsequent fluid circulation is through the drill string and drill bit.

Another object is to provide an improved tool and whipstock combinationfor securing the whipstock to a drill pipe string while it is beinglowered into the hole in a manner that swinging movements and thepossibility of the whipstock becoming dislocated after being positionedin the borehole will be avoided.

Still another object is to provide a whipstock locking and releasingapparatus which will hold the whipstock in a rigid position with respectto the drill pipe string and which will retain the whipstock in itsinitial set 3,336,990 Patented Aug. 22, 1967 orientation during thefirst downward movements of the drill string through the whipstockcollar portion and which additionally includes means for simultaneouslyaltering the mud flow circulation path from one passing through thewhipstock to one passing through and out the drill bit. Thus, once thewhipstock is set in one position it will remain in substantially suchposition while deflection drilling may progress with normal mudcirculation.

Still another object is to provide a combination whip stock and toolwhich may be operated from the surface of the borehole for releasing thewhipstock from the end of the drill pipe for rotation of the latterindependently of the whipstock string once it has been lowered into thedesired position in the borehole and for removing the whipstock with thedrilling string after the deflection drilling operation has terminated.

These and other objects of this invention are attained by providing animproved whipstock having longitudinal mud circulation channels passingthrough the lower end portion of the whipstock. The cooperating tool foruse with the whipstock includes cooperating splined telescoping membershaving central and auxiliary mud passageways and means for changing themud circulation from one path outwardly of the tool through theauxiliary passageways to the central passageway.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying two sheets of drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational View of the invention in position to belowered into a borehole;

FIGURE 2 is a right side elevational view of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view takensubstantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, to an enlarged scale,taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the tool or circulatingsub taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1; and

FIGURES 6, 7, 8 and 9 are horizontal cross-sectional views takensubstantially along the respective lines 66, 7-7, 8-8 and 9--9 of FIG.5.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures ofthe drawings in which they occur.

In the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates a whipstock connected with a drillstring 12 in position to be lowered into a borehole, not shown. Thewhipstock 10 includes a ring or collar portion 14 at its upper end and.21 depending inverted wedge-shaped end portion 16 having a back orouter wall surface 15 and a concave inclined surface 18 connected to thering 14 by a concave longitudinal straight section 20 which nests adrill bit 26, connecting tubular members, and a cooperating tool orcirculating sub 25. The bore of the ring portion 14 is internallysplined, as at 21, for cooperatively receiving a splined section formedon the depending end of the drill string 12 so that the whipstock 10 maybe rotated with the drill string 12. The tubular members comprise aconventional knuckle joint 22 which is connected to the depending end ofthe drill string 12 below the splines 21. The circulating sub 25connects the knuckle joint 22 to the drill bit 26.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 5 to 9, inclusive, the circulatingsub 25 includes a body portion 27, a drive sleeve 28, a mandrel 30, lockring 32 and a lock nut 34. The body portion 27 is tubular havinginternal threads 36 at its depending end for connection with the drillbit 26. The body 27 has an inner bore 38 diametrically step diameterreduced adjacent its lower end, but above the threads 36, to form adownwardly converging seat 40,

a smaller bore 42, and a diametrically reduced neck portion or bore 44.The depending end portion of the bore 44 is threaded for receiving afrangible disk or plug 50 for the purposes presently explained.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, a pair of fluid passagebores or ports 52 areformed through the wall of the body to extend angularly downward andoutward adjacent the depending internal threads 36. As shown in FIG. 9,the spacing between the bores 52 is preferably substantially 120 so thattubing and fittings connected thereto, as hereinafter explained, do notcontact the whipstock and interfere with the placement of the drillingcomponents with respect to the whipstock. The bores 52 are internallythreaded for receiving fittings 54 and connecting a pair of tubes 56 tothe body 27 for communication with the bores 96 thereof for the purposesmore fully explained hereinbelow.

The upper end portion of the body 27 is internally threaded as at 53,for cooperatingly receiving the drive sleeve 28. Intermediate its endsthe inner wall of the drive sleeve 28 is provided with splines 60. Themandrel 30 is centrally bored, as at 62, and includes a head portion 64defined by an annular shoulder 65. The head portion is internallythreaded as at 66 for connection with the depending end of the knucklejoint 22.

The diametrically reduced depending end portion of the mandrel 36 isexternally splined, as at 68, for slidably engaging the drive sleevesplines 60 in telescoping relation. The mandrel splines 68 terminateshort of the depending end of the mandrel which is externally threaded,:as at 70, for threadedly receiving the lock nut 34. The lock ring 32 isinterposed between the upper end surface of the lock nut 34 and thedepending ends of the splines 60 and68. An external beveled seat 72 isformed on the lock nut 34 for cooperative seating engagement with theseat 40 and defines a depending reduced portion 74 on the lock nut whichenters the body bore 42. The depending end portion of the lock nut isfurther diametrically reduced and angularly cut off, as at 75, to form aknife 76 adapted to enter the body neck portion 44 and contact andrupture the frangible disk 50 as explained hereinbelow.

Sealing rings, such as O-rings 78, surround the lock nut between itsuppermost end and seat 72 while other similar sealing rings 80,surrounding the lock nut reduced portion 74, seal with the walls of thebody bore 42 for the purposes which will presently be apparent.

Adjacent its connection with the body 27 the drive sleeve 28 is providedwith a plurality of inwardly extending circumferentially spaced-apartshear pins 82 which project inwardly of the drive sleeve wall and arecooperatingly received by bores or sockets formed in alternate ones ofthe mandrel splines 68 to maintain the mandrel 30 in extended positionwith respect to the drive sleeve and frangible disk 50 while going inthe hole and seating the whipstock. The drive sleeve 28 is furtherprovided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart lock memberscomprising set screws 34 threadedly engaged with the wall of the drivesleeve and plugs 86 normally slidably engaging the outermost surface ofrespective alternate ones of the mandrel splines 68. A spring 88,interposed between the set screw 84- and plug 86, urges the latter intoengagement with a socket or recess 90 formed in the respective alternateones of the splines 68 in spaced relation with respect to the mandrelshoulder 65 for the purposes presently explained.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 3, the depending end portion ofthe whipstock concave surface 18 is provided with mud passage channelmeans comprising a pair of spaced-apart longitudinally extending grooves92, closed by coextensive caps or covers 94, which extend upwardly fromthe depending end of the whipstock and intersect, respectively, diagonalbores 96 in the body of the whipstock. The depending end portions of thetubes 56 are secured in the respective diagonal bores 96 forcommunication with the fluid passage grooves 92. The depending ends ofthe respective diagonal bores 96, on the back or outer side 15 of thewhipstock, are sealed by plugs 28. Thus, a fluid path or course isprovided from the drill string 12 through the knuckle joint 22 and thebore of the mandrel 3t) outwardly through the auxiliary body bores 52,tubes 56 and the whipstock passages 92.

Operation In operation the whipstock 10 is connected to the drill string12 and secured thereto by a shear pin 100. The knuckle joint 22,circulating sub 25 and drill bit 26, are assembled, as shown in FIGS. 1and 2, with the tubes 56 connected to the whipstock as disclosedhereinabove.

The entire assembly is lowered into the hole and oriented to a desiredposition. During such orientation fluid may be circulated from the drillstring through the bore of the mandrel and downward through thewhipstock passages 92 by means of the tubes 56. After the whipstock hasbeen properly seated or positioned, the drill string is lowered withrespect to the whipstock to shear the pin 100 which directs the drillbit 26 outwardly of the whipstock along the concave surface 18. As thedrill bit 26 is rotated by the drill string 12 the bit encounters theborehole wall, not shown. The weight of the drill string moves themandrel 30 downwardly in the body 27 in a telescoping action shearingthe drive sleeve shear pins 82 so that the lock nut seat 72 seats on thebody seat 40 to close the lateral passages 52 while simultaneously theknife 76, entering the body bore 44, ruptures the frangible plug 50 andopens a path of fluid communication from the bore of the mandrel throughthe fluid courses, not shown, in the bit 26. In this telescopingposition of the mandrel 30, with respect to the body 27, the lock plugs86 are forced by the springs 88 into engagement with the mandrel splinerecesses 90, which holds the mandrel in its telescoped position. Theseal rings 78 and thus seal off the auxiliary fluid path through theports 52.

The above action destroys the tubes 56 which are forced out of the wayor drilled up by the rotating action of the bit 26. After a desireddeflection penetration has been made in the borehole wall the drillstring 12 is lifted until the splined portion thereof and knuckle jointagain contacts the internally splined collar 14 of the whipstock so thatthe latter is removed from the borehole with the drill string.

Obviously the invention is susceptible to some change or alterationwithout defeating its practicability, and We therefore do not wish to beconfined to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and describedherein, further than we are limited by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A deflection drilling apparatus including a drill bit connected withthe depending end portion of a drilling string having a passage forfluid drilling substance, comprising: a whipstock longitudinallyarranged exteriorly of said drill bit and the depending end portion ofsaid drilling string, said whipstock having an upper collar portionsurrounding a portion of and releasably connected with said drillingstring, said whipstock having channel means defining a fluid drillingsubstance path formed in its lower end portion passing down saidwhipstock to open out of the lower end thereof; a circulating subincluding a body and a mandrel telescopingly received by the bodyinterposed between said drill bit and said drilling string, saidcirculating sub having a central fluid drilling substance passageway andhaving a port through its wall in communication with said centralpassageway; a seat formed on said mandrel for closing said port; afrangible plug closing the central passageway of said circulating sub;tubing means connecting the port in said circulating sub with thechannel means in said whipstock; and a knife formed on said mandrel forrupturing said frangible plug to open the central close the port.

2. A rotating and circulating whipstock apparatus adapted to beconnected with the depending end portion of a drilling string having adrill bit and having a drilling mud passageway, comprising: a whipstockhaving a collar surrounding a portion of and releasably connected withsaid drilling string, said whipstock having channel means defining adrilling mud passageway formed in its end portion opposite said collar,said channel means passing longitudinally of said whipstock and openingout of the end thereof opposite said collar; a circulating subinterposed between and connecting said drilling string to said drillbit, said circulating sub including a tubular body, said body having aseat formed on its inner wall defining a neck portion of reduceddiameter and having a port through its wall intersecting said seat,tubing means connecting the port with the end of the channel meansopposite its open end, a frangible plug closing said neck portion, acentrally bored mandrel telescopingly received by said body; means forchanging the path of drilling mud entering said mandrel from oneoutwardly of said body through said port to one through the neck of saidbody including a lock out connected with the end of said mandrel withinsaid body, said lock nut having a beveled seat sealing with the seat onsaid body and closing said port, said beveled seat defining a knife onthe end of said lock nut opposite said mandrel, said knife adapted forentering the neck of said body and rupturing said frangible plug; andmeans connecting said mandrel to said body.

3. Structure as specified in claim 2 in which the last mentioned meansfurther includes a drive sleeve connected with said body around saidmandrel; cooperating splines formed on the inner periphery of said drivesleeve and outer periphery of said mandrel; a shear pin extendingthrough the wall of said drive sleeve and into one said mandrel splinefor holding said mandrel in extended relation with respect to said body,one of said mandrel splines having a socket formed in its outer surfacespaced outwardly of said drive sleeve when said mandrel is in extendedposition; and a lock member carried by the wall of said sleeve includinga plug normally urged into said socket when said mandrel is telescopedinto said body.

4. A deflection drilling apparatus including a whipstock releasablyconnected with the depending end portion of a drill string and includinga drill bit, said whipstock having mud passage channel means extendinglongitudinally of its lower end portion and opening out of the lowermostend thereof, a circulating sub connecting said drill bit to said drillstring, said circulating sub including a vertically disposed tubularbody having a diametrically reduced bore in its lower end portionforming a neck and defining a seat above the neck, a frangible plugnormally closing the neck, the wall of said body having a portintersecting said seat and forming an auxiliary mud passageway, tubingmeans connecting the port to the channel means in said whipstock, acentrally bored mandrel slidably received by said body in telescopingrelapassageway and tion, a lock nut secured to the end of said mandrelwithin said body, said lock nut having a reduced lower end portionforming a frangible plug rupturing knife and forming a beveled seat forcontacting the seat in said body and closing the port, a drive sleeveconnected with the upper end of said body around said mandrel,cooperating splines formed on the inner surface of said drive sleeve andthe outer surface of said mandrel, and means holding said mandrel in aselected position with respect to said body.

5. Structure as specified in claim 4 in which alternate ones of thesplines on said mandrel have inwardly extending lower sockets formed intheir outermost surface within said drive sleeve and upper socketsformed in their outermost surface in spaced relation above said drivesleeve when said mandrel is extended with respect to said body; shearpins extending through the wall of said drive sleeve into the lowersockets for holding said mandrel extended with respect to said body; andlocking members including a spring and locking plug carried by the wallof said drive sleeve, said spring forcing said locking plug into saidupper socket for holding said mandrel in a telescoped position.

6. A fluid circulating tool for a whipstock, said whipstock havinglongitudinally extending fluid passage channels in its depending endportion, comprising: a centrally bored body having threaded end portionsadapted to be connected at one end to a drill bit, a drive sleevecoaxially connected to the other end portion of said body, said drivesleeve having splines formed on its internal bore, said body having aseat formed in its depending end portion defining a diametricallyreduced bore, said body having a port through its wall intersecting saidseat; a mandrel having a depending splined end portion telescopinglyreceived by said drive sleeve and said body; a frangible plug normallyclosing the reduced bore of said body; a lock member secured to thedepending end of said mandrel, said lock member having a reduced lowerend portion forming a beveled seat for contacting the seat in said bodyand closing said port and forming a sharpened end portion adapted toenter the reduced bore in said body and rupture said plug; a frangibleplug normally closing the reduced bore of said body; means maintainingsaid mandrel in selected telescoping positions with respect to saidbody; and tubing means connecting said body port with the fluid passagechannels in said whipstock for communication therebetween.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 244,042 7/1881 Farrar- 166-2242,196,517 4/1940 Bolton 82 X 2,626,177 1/1953 Maxwell et a1. 166-226 X2,770,444 11/ 1956 Neal 175-83 X 2,965,182 12/1960 Galeener 175-823,174,549 3/1965 Anderson 166117.5

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner. I. A. CALVERT, AssistantExaminer.

1. A DEFLECTION DRILLING APPARATUS INCLUDING A DRILL BIT CONNECTED WITHTHE DEPENDING END PORTION OF A DRILLING STRING HAVING A PASSAGE FORFLUID DRILLING SUBSTANCE, COMRISING: A WHIPSTOCK LONGITUDINALLY ARRANGEDEXTERIORLY OF SAID DRILL BIT AND THE DEPENDING END PORTION OF SAIDDRILLING STRING SAID WHIPSTOCK HAVING AN UPPER COLLAR PORTIONSURROUNDING A PORTION OF AND RELEASABLY CONNECTED WITH SAID DRILLINGSTRIND, SAID WHIPSTOCK HAVING CHANNEL MEANS DEFINING A FLUID DRILLINGSUBSTANCE PATH FORMED IN ITS LOWER END PORTION PASSING DOWN SAIDWHIPSTOCK TO OPEN OUT OF THE LOWER END THEREOF; A CIRCULATING SUBINCLUDING A BODY AND A MANDREL TELESCOPINGLY RECEIVED BY THE BODYINTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID DRILL BIT AND SAID DRILLING STRING, SAIDCIRCULATING SUB HAVING A CENTRAL FLUID DRILLING SUBSTANCE PASSAGEWAY ANDHAVING A PORT THROUGH ITS WALL IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CENTRALPASSAGEWAY; A SEAT FORMED ON SAID MANDREL FOR CLOSING SAID PORT; AFRANGIBLE PLUG CLOSING THE CENTRAL PASSAGEWAY OF SAID CIRCULATING SUB;TUBING MEANS CONNECTING THE PORT IN SAID CIRCULATING SUB WITH THECHANNEL MEANS IN SAID WHIPSTOCK; AND A KNIFE FORMED ON SAID MANDREL FORRUPTURING SAID FRANGIBLE PLUG TO OPEN THE CENTRAL PASSAGEWAY AND CLOSETHE PORT.